Defense Mechanisms for Coping

lifespan

Rationalization

Developing a plausible excuse for unacceptable behavior (good reason for bad behavior)

Repression

“forgetting” an unpleasant experience (pushed the reality so far down that you don’t acknowledge it existing)

Projection

Attributing one’s thoughts or feelings to another person (forcing personal beliefs on others)

Displacement

Expressing feelings (often anger) one has about a person towards another innocent person (misdirected feelings)

Reaction Formation

Acting just the opposite of what one feels

example: acting sure of oneself when one is really feeling insecure

(acting the opposite of how you feel)

Regression

Reverting to immature behavior

Identification

Joining a group so that its positive identity will be reflected in oneself (joining a group bec they have a good image so now i’m gonna have that good image too)

Sublimination

Rechanneling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable ones

example: channeling aggression into playing football